Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-12
Mr.. John n. Taylor writes to the Boston
Globe from Hallowell as follows:

Mr.. John n. Taylor writes to the Boston
Globe from Hallowell as follows:
Nodding gently to the zephyrs that ru fia
up the surface Of the Keunebec river in this
city there lies staunch looking sloop, with
her prov pointing toward the old town land
ing. AT her helm, watching the blue wreaths
OF smoke ascend heavenward from briar-
wood pipe, sits man past the summer of
life. He has a half-soldier, half sailor ap
prarance, a keen eye and an intelligent
countenance. His hair is long and hangs
nearly to his shoulders, curling at the ends
Ii Is yeiiowlsh gray in color, and very thick.
A moustache and goatee give him the ap
pearance OF veteran of Napoleon's Oh
Guard, while the brass, eagle .emblazoned
buttons on his waistcoat and silver badge in
laid with various colored stones, inform one
that he was once soldier in Uncle Sans
army. and once listened to the ominous zip of
the MIME bullets as they chanted their san
culinary songs on the field of carnage.
The name of this man is Lieutenant J. n.
Coffin. He was born in Portsmouth, n. H.,
in 1926. His life and adventures would fill
volumes, and story of his harbreadth es-
capes and thrilling adventures would make
scores of juvenile Indian slayers and embryo
Buffalo Bills. When be became old enough
his mother sent him to school. and he scarcely
missed day during that period of his life
until he graduated at the Portsmouth High
School,
California had a fascination for him, and
thither he went and studied law. While in
the Golden State war broke out with Mexico,
and he shouldered his musket, to do battle in
his country's cause He was at the storming
of Chepultepec, and entered the Mexican
fortress and made prisoner of the commander
before the colors were pulled down. For
this meritorious conduct he was
Made Sergeant.
The hardy son of the Granite State fol
lowed the ever varying fortunes of the war,
and, at its close. he, with a company of %
men, headed bv his old captain in the Mex.
can war. John II. JACKSON. who was a colo
mel in the war of the rebellion and who
is now, or WAS recently, employed in the
Boston Custom House, started from Panama
in dugout for the city of San Francisco.
Lieutenant Gotta left the party in Mazat-
Ian and shipped before the mast on French
whaler, and was wrecked in Mazstlan harbor
by tornado. Only 10 out of crew OF 68
survived, Lieutenant Coffin being one of
four that reached the shore by swimming
The rest were rescued by the British man OF
war Champion.
After spending many years in California,
he returned TO his native State, and when the
war of the rebellion broke out he enlistei as
lieutenant in the Thirteenth New Hampshire
Regiment. While stationed near the Ports
mouth (Va.) navy yard, a stray shot from
the enemy grazed the top of his head. Th .
wound had most singular effect upon his
memory. For nine years he lived as one in
dream, and all the events Of the war were
almost entirely forgotten.
He was sent to the hospital attached to the
quartermaster' department in Alexandria,
Va, and was afterwards transferred to Lin
coin Hospital in Washington, ID c. His
general health was good and he had the use
Of tools in the quartermaster'. department, TO
which the hospital was attached.
Having learned the carpenters trade in
Portsmouth,N. H. when boy, the old knack
of handling the plane and chisel soon returned
to him. All that he did was in sort of me
chanical way. His memory was so tickle that
he was Obliged to make a note of everything
he wished to remember If he went down
town for a pound of nails or anything else
without a memorandum Of what he was after,
he never could remember what errand he
started on.
In 1870. when Captain Hall obtained a
commission for an Arctic expedition, a friend
procured Lieutenant Coffin the office of ships
carpenter on board the Polaris, thinking that a
Change of Climate
might be of benefit to him. Little he though,
OF the consequences, and the pecuiarties thst
were to arise.
The Polaris started on her ever memorable
cruise, and Lieutenant Coffin gave entire sat
sfsctlon. He still adhered to his habit OF
making notes. aud, fort nstely be did, for
he would have had no history of MS Life from
the time he was struck by the stray bullet
until the return of his memory, nine wears
later
1t NAV be remembered that the POlaris that
season penetrated further north than any yes
sci ever had been before, passing several de-
grees beyond the supposed "open sea" of
DR. Kane. proving that navigator's theory a
NTH.
AlGer putting the Polaris ~ winter quar-
tiers, Captain Hall made dog -sledge journey
of several weeks toward the north pole. He
reached latitude $40 49,, which was the
highest point ever reached by any white man.
On his return, from great exhaustion. he was
take n sick and died Ii was Lieut.. Collins
sad privilege to make bis casket, in which lie
was placed, and follow his remains to the
grave, hundreds of miles further north than
any other Christian sepulture.
On the death of Captain Hall the command
or the Polaris devolved on Captain Buding-
ton 1t was bis intention, as soon as the ship
was released from the ice, TO push on as far
as he could the ensuing season. The ship
had been so jammed by the ice in her winter
quarters as to make her leak very badly, and
IN place which could not be reached to be
repaired.
1t was so late in the season before she was
released from the ice, and the difficulties Of
proceeding further north in her crippled con
dition so great, that it was thought best to
return home. Accordingly the ships head
was pointed toward the south and the return
VOYAGE begun. The Polsris had not proceeded
far when she became embedded in the ice
again and drifted south, attached to large
foe, all the time exposed to the danger of
being crushed to pieces. During severe
gale OF wind the ship was in great danger,
and preparations were made to abandon her.
Provisions were placed on the foe, and the
crew LETT the shipto trust their lives to the
precsrious chances of being picked up some
hundreds of miles further south. This was
partly accomplished, about half of the men
being on the ice when the violence of the
gale br, Ike the ships fsstenings and whirled
her away, and soon the parties were
Out of sight OF Each Other
The ship was in sinking condition, but
nv great exertions she was finally run on
shore.